Chuseok Break - Part II

Seoraksan National Park

Just a quick, 15 minute bus ride up a river valley ad we were in Korea's famous Seoraksan National Park. The park boasts many rare and endangered animal and plant species and is a UNESCO Biosphere Preservation District. The peaks are an amazing site and waterfalls abound.

 We started by taking the cable car to the top of the peak. It was a bit foggy and cold when we first reached the top. But before long the sun began to win out and we could see all the way to the ocean.

The view from the top of the peak looking down to our starting point. Notice the cable car in the bottom right of the photo!

 Once at the top we took a couple different hikes. All were quite steep and rewarded us with spectacular views. The stairs above lead down to a Buddhist temple on the side of the mountain. It is still active and recordings of gongs are piped through the forest.


On the other side of the ridge you could scramble up a rock face to get a 360 degree view. Josh went on to the top with our friends, but Finlay, Haven and I decided to wait it out closer to the bottom!

The ride back down to the bottom was quick and gorgeous. Once on the ground we decided on a waterfall laden hike. We hiked into a deep canyon cut through by a beautiful river cascading down waterfall after waterfall. The trail was part trail and part stairway. Finlay and the boys raced ahead and waited for us at the pool at the end of the trail.

Most of the stairwells were more like cages to protect hikers from the falling rocks.

We ate a snack at the pool at the end of the trail and Fin tried hard to feed some of the chipmunks his trail mix. But, they were fast, untrusting little guys!

So, he settled for a soda and some Korean Seafood Pancake at the little outdoor snack area near the beginning of the trail. Us grown ups got a nice cold beer. What a great idea at the end of a trail!